April 24, 2024

Take your Fitness to the Next Level!

July 3, 2015 By Leave a Comment

Take your fitness to the next level…

Join #HealthyWayMag Fitness Chat every Monday at 5pm(Pacific)/8pm(Eastern) on Twitter. Pick up exercise tips, workout ideas and your weekly fitness motivation.

How does a Twitter Chat work?

 

1. Log onto Twitter.

2. Enter hashtag #HealthyWayMag.

3. Follow along with our conversation about all aspects of fitness.

4. Interact with fellow fitness-enthusiasts. During our Question and Answer discussion, you’ll learn about new exercise methods, top gear and best practices for success. Your motivation will soar!

5. Enjoy fitness friends, accountability and FUN!

 

 

Monday July 6, 2015 #HealthyWayMag Fitness Chat Sponsored by SaltStick:

Do you know that replacing electrolytes lost during a tough workout is key for top fitness performance? If you race, participate in community events or organized athletics, having an electrolyte replacement plan in place is essential. Enter SaltStick! Reduce muscle cramping and fatigue that results from electrolyte imbalance by adding SaltStick Caps into your training regime. SaltStick Caps enable you to beat the heat and the body stress that comes with max workouts in hot and humid conditions. And with their patented, cutting edge and user-friendly salt tab dispensers, you can easily carry SaltStick Caps with you while cycling, running, hiking or the like. And for more of a competitive edge check out their SaltStick Mini, weighing in at only 12g. Making SaltStick your new training may just mean your fastest workouts are yet to come! Check them out on Twitter @SaltStick , and join their Facebook community for more info!

Filed Under: Your Fitness Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Fitness on 2 Wheels by Nicole Bryan

May 6, 2015 By Leave a Comment

Have you considered adding cycling or bicycling into your fitness routine? Biking is a mode of exercise that boasts many benefits. It’s a non-impact, full body, functional and economical, as well as an adjustable intensity workout.

Non-impact exercise basically means there’s no jarring or impact on your bones and joints in the exercise. If you’ve experienced joint injuries, biking may be a good choice. Biking could also be considered a full body workout if you’re keeping your upper body and core under tension by maintaining proper posture and spinal alignment while cycling. If you’re planning to head to the trails on your bike, the terrain alone will have all your muscles working the entire time, while also testing your bike handling skills.

As a functional and economical exercise, biking to and from running errands, commuting to work or simply leaving the car at home on the weekends and heading out your bike, will ease finances from having to fill up your gas tank.

Cycling is also an adjustable exercise in regards to intensity, enter your bike gears. You can push a harder gear up a hill or shift to an easier gear and focus on increasing the turn-over of your legs. You can pedal fast, slow or even coast if you’re in need of a break. All in all, most would agree cycling is a workout to consider.

A few safety considerations:
Helmet: Helmets are a must. There are road biking helmets, mountain biking helmets, as well as general sport helmets. Choose one based on what type of riding you’ll be doing most. Prices range from $40.00 on up to $200.00 and more. According to the law, all helmets sold in the USA must be approved by the Consumer Products Safety Commission, so be sure to look for their seal of approval. Another quick safety note, any helmet that has been involved in any kind of impact should be replaced, regardless of the external appearance of the helmet.

Reflectors: If you’re riding at night, a clear/white light must be attached on the front to either the bicycle or the person, check your state requirements. Riders, by most state law, must be visible for up to 300 feet. Also often required for night riding is a red rear reflector, white or yellow reflectors on the front and back of each pedal, as well as clear/white reflectors on both sides of the front half and back half of your bicycle.

Road Rules: Cyclist and drivers follow the same rules of the road.

Emergency Contact: Always carry ID and emergency info with you.

As far as cycling gear goes, that’s up to you. If you’re riding for long distance, padded cycling shorts may be a good investment. If you’re interested in aerodynamics, consider a riding jersey with a rear pocket to hold your belongings such as your keys and phone. Biking shoes will also allow for an efficient pedal stroke, if you’re considering riding for fitness either on the paved road or dirt trail.

Filed Under: Your Fitness Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

YOUR Safety Made Simple

February 25, 2015 By Leave a Comment

YOUR Safety Made Simple

Running along your usual early morning route, you’re lost in thought planning the in’s and out’s of your day ahead. Rush to this meeting, then return those emails, pick up the kids… You head across the street at your usual intersection when traffic clears, only to have a car whiz by you at warp speed and then slam on the brakes! You were sure the driver saw you. You were sure the driver was paying attention. You were sure you were visible. Accidents happen. You were lucky this time.

Ever experienced a close call like this? It’s shocking, alarming and scary! Increase visibility and be seen by others to increase your safety while exercising outdoors, walking your dog before and after work, or even while performing chores around your property during darkness. As an outdoor or fitness enthusiast, you need to know about AthLights!

A common mistakes of athletes is to assume visibility is only important from the front. Nothing can be further from the truth, visibility is important from the front, back, and sides of your body. “AthLights uses a unique magnetic grip which allows them to be placed anywhere on your clothing, not just on hems, belts, or the edges of garments” explains Daniel Staples, co-creator and COO of AthLights. AthLights is your safety solution as you can place the lights ANYWHERE and EVERYWHERE on your clothing. Take a look at this video demonstrating the ease and user-friendly nature of their personal lighting system.

AthLights will be celebrating two years of exponential growth this April, and now you can discover what the fuss is all about. “AthLights are the lightest, smallest personal lighting product on the market for runners, bikers, and walkers” explains Daniel. The design of their lighting system was inspired by a friend and ultramarathoner of the founders who was searching for a comfortable, light-weight and compact safety light. “At the time, the typical safety lights for runners were large, bulky, and had to be awkwardly attached to waistbands, chaffing the skin. We took a shot at solving the problem and brought a beta version of the product to market about a year later” shares Daniel. And so the concept of AthLights was born.

So how does the light work exactly? Each light comes with a magnetic LED module with batteries included. The batteries enjoy a life of 40 hours and are easily replaced by batteries found at your local convenience store. “And even though they were created by engineers, you don’t have to have a PhD to use them. They simply twist on and off with a single flashing operating mode. Battery replacement is simple and requires no tools” insures Daniel.

AthLights also boasts a performing edge to other lights on the market. Daniel explains, “they’re waterproof and built from crush-resistant nickel-plated metal.” He continues “so even hikers, campers, and tough-mudder enthusiasts can wear them without worry of damaging them in the elements.” AthLights is there for you providing 600 feet of visibility with a strobe red and white light for even more visibility to catch others attention. Weighing in at only 1/3 of an ounce and sized smaller than a dime, once positioned you won’t need to give them a second thought. AthLights require no straps, buttons or pins! Using a rare-earth magnet it stays in place securely and easily.

Now you can focus on your fitness, instead of fussing with lighting and reflective gear that is distracting, bulky and cumbersome.

With an investment of $9.99 for a 2-pack of AthLights, why wouldn’t you add a layer of security and safety to your outdoor activities? And if you’re looking for a gift idea, look no further! Give the outdoor exerciser in your life (and yourself) peace of mind with AthLights! Order yours via Amazon or directly from their online store, www.athlights.com.

If you’re curious to learn more, check out all the facts here, or send an email via info@athlights.com. And please consider joining their communities on Twitter and Facebook!

Filed Under: Your Fitness Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Essentials for Runners by Jason Saltmarsh

September 18, 2014 By Leave a Comment

Reminders for Runners

1. If you have a morning race or workout, decrease your warm up time with a hot/cold/hot shower before you go. It boosts circulation and helps jump-start your day.

2. Ouch! Wrap painful blisters in band-aids and duct tape to avoid further injury when racing. Afterwards, let them air out and keep them clean so they can heal properly.

3. Grab a cup of coffee 1/2 an hour before running to boost your workout performance. It takes about 30-45 minutes to work it’s most powerful magic, but you’ll feel like you have rocket boosters strapped to your feet.

4. If you don’t have a gel or sports drink available, you can drink a flat Cola for fuel. Believe it or not, plenty of sugar, caffeine, and carbohydrates make this the drink of choice for many athletes.

5. Get two pairs of running shoes and rotate them to help prevent injury. The shoes will last longer, and your feet will be healthier. Some runners choose a fast shoe for workouts and races, and a comfortable shoe for regular mileage.

6. Gauge ‘comfortable pace’ during training with the talk test or by singing the Brady Bunch theme song. If you’re unable to talk to your friend, or sing the song, you’re going too fast.

7. Take some cash, your fully charged phone, and toilet paper on runs lasting more than 90 minutes. Better to have and not need, than to need and not have. Trust me on this one.

8. Write down your training goal, race goal, etc. and stick it on your refrigerator. It’ll keep you accountable and remind others to support you. And, it’ll make you think twice before reaching for a second helping of coffee toffee crunch ice cream.

9. When it rains, use lots of Vasoline all over everything that could chafe, blister, or rub. Water is not your friend on race day unless your drinking it.

10. Run with a friend. It makes the miles easier.

Jason Saltmarsh is a competitive masters runner at distances ranging from 5K to the half marathon. In November 2013, he raced his first 26.2 at the iconic New York City Marathon. Jason’s goal is to share with others the benefits and joys of running, fitness and healthy living. For more information, please visit saltmarshrunning.com.

Filed Under: Your Fitness Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Whatever the Weather by Gen Levrant

June 25, 2014 By Leave a Comment

Fit in your fitness whatever the weather!

Rain, heavy fog, wind…summer doesn’t always bring pure sunshine. And even if we are blessed with sunshine, the majority of people still spend their days cooped up indoors.

The solution?  GET OUTSIDE ANYWAY!

Walk/Run for Function

It may sound cliché (or you’ve heard it before) but getting out the office and briskly walking around the block even for 10-20 minutes can make even the worst of days better. Your mind will clear and re-focus from physically removing yourself from the environment, your mood lifted from natural daylight and oxygen.

15 minute fat blast: Warm up by walking briskly for two minutes. Repeat the following x 4: 2 minute jog and 30 second sprint. Walk slowly to cool down, finishing with stretching.

Head for the Hills

Hill walks/sprints are a great interval training workout for the heart and lungs, allowing exertion and recovery at your own pace. Try your local park, woods or venture further, making a day of it at the beach or a national park. Vary the terrain: grass, gravel and sand all keep it interesting.

10 minute fat blast: run uphill (or up outdoor steps,) walk down and repeat. Record how many you do – and see if you can beat it next time to track your progress. Great fun for all the family so make a game of it!

DIY Bootcamp

As our Bootcamp takes place outdoors and undercover, our attendees are fortunately always guaranteed fresh air whatever the weather! Try making your own in your garden or local playground. Exercises like press ups and step-ups can be done on benches. Pull ups and mountain climbers can be done on climbing frame ladders.

5 minute fat blast: pick five exercises, one for each minute. Complete as many reps as you can.

Whatever your age and fitness level, these three outdoor workouts; when done with care and patience can create phenomenal results. So if it rains, be your own sunshine!

Gen Levrant is an Advanced Personal Trainer and weight-loss specialist. She runs a private functional training studio in Southampton UK helping people get safe and permanent results. For more info, email gen@fasterpt.com. Follow her on Twitter @PTGen.

Filed Under: Your Fitness Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

HELLO Spring! By Angelena Riggs

March 28, 2014 By Leave a Comment

Spring is here, time to take your fitness outside!

Are you feeling bored with your current indoor workouts?  Now that Spring is finally here, it’s time to take your workouts outside for a change.  You can get some sun, have some fun and get a great workout in too.  Ready to head out and burn some calories?

 

Here are a few ways to get outside:

Take a trail hike:  Find a local State Park that has trails marked for with walking paths.  Trails are a great alternative to treadmill inclines and work your entire lower body!

Do some track sprint intervals: The local high school is a great location to work on your sprints.  Try walking, running, then sprinting in intervals to burn major calories.

Play sports: Grab a friend, your spouse or even your kids for a fun game of tennis or basketball.  Playing sports is a fun way to take your fitness outside while spending time with your loved ones.

Fitness Trail Loop:  There are many parks and trails that offer fitness activities. Some activities include pull up bars, sit-up benches, and monkey bars.  Not sure where to find one, do a quick internet search for one in your area.  This is a fun way to challenge your fitness and try something new.

Get on your Bike: Spring is the perfect time to get your bike out from the rack in your garage and hit the trails. Biking is a great workout and you can ride the sidewalks in your neighborhood or find a local bike trail.  Grab a friend or two and get pedaling.

Whatever activity you choose to do, just get moving.  Spring is the perfect time to take your workouts outside and get your friends and family involved and off the couch.

Angelena is a mom, healthy living blogger at On Fire Fitness Healthy Living (www.OnFireFitnesspt.com), a NASM Certified Personal trainer and Fitness Nutrition Specialist. Her goal is to inspire others to take the steps to living a healthy lifestyle. Visit Angelena on Facebook and on Twitter.

Filed Under: Your Fitness Tagged With: , , ,

Fitness on the Road by Brett Klika C.S.C.S

May 8, 2013 By Leave a Comment

You’ve worked hard to establish a workout routine. You have your running routes, your favorite pieces of equipment in the gym, and a consistent program that’s been delivering results! What happens when you have to take this “show” on the road and leave your usual routine? The good news is, “the show can go on!”  You just need some adaptable, fun, and effective exercise strategies that can be done anywhere.

Below are common features found in parks, rest stops, and other outdoor areas that can be used to create a challenging exercise program. As always, consult your physician before beginning any exercise program.

Park Bench

1.    Push-ups
Depending on your level, you can put your hands on the bench (beginner) or your feet (advanced) and perform push-ups.  To make them even more challenging, lift one leg off the ground or bench while you do them.
2.    Step-Downs
Start by standing on the bench with both feet.  Attempt to step down to the ground slowly with one foot, only allowing the heel to touch the ground before standing back up.  Touch the ground as lightly as possible.  Repeat on both legs.

Parking Stall Curbs

1.    Balance squats
Standing on the parking stall curb so your feet are perpendicular to the curb, perform body-weight squats without falling forward or backward.
2.    Calf raises
Standing on the parking stall curb so your feet are perpendicular to the curb and heels are off the curb, raise up to our “tip toes” and return to your start position.
3.    Quick steps
Start by standing on the ground, facing the curb.  Step up with the right foot then the left foot as fast as possible.  Repeat as fast as possible stepping down as well.  Repeat at the highest rate possible.
 

Put the above exercises together and combine them with running, jogging, swimming, or any other activity to get a fun, diverse, and effective workout on the road!

Make sure to warm-up by jogging, skipping, or moving at a moderate intensity for about 5 minute prior to starting your program.

 

Brett Klika C.S.C.S., Director of Athletics at Fitness Quest 10 and founder of www.brettklika.com, is a world- renowned human performance specialist, motivational speaker, author, and educator. He uses this knowledge and experience to motivate individuals and audiences around the world through his writing, speaking, DVD’s, and personal correspondence. For more information and video on exercises, programs, and any other information on losing fat and creating the body you have always wanted, check out The Underground Workout Manual – Exercise and Fat Loss in the Real World at www.undergroundworkoutmanual.com.

Filed Under: Your Fitness Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,
Newer Posts »